"Steven, do you love me?"
Steven just started at the teen. "Uh..." Sure Steven had thought about Brendan. Perhaps that was something he shouldn't admit to. After all, his thoughts weren't always innocent. These days they seemed to be anything but.
Brendan swirled the spoon around in the coffee, looking straight at Steven.
Steven swallowed thickly. "Uh..."
Brendan frowned. "Steven, are you okay?"
Steven nodded. Why could his brain not form a proper sentence? What was wrong with his thought process?
Brendan's gaze traveled from Steven to another man. Steven didn't know him, but he felt a pang of jealousy that Brendan was looking at another man with eyes that hadn't left him until that moment.
"I do like you."
Brendan's gaze snapped straight back to Steven, his face still expressionless, but his eyes were serious.
"I do like you Brendan" Steven repeated. At least he was able to say something. Brendan was no longer looking at the other man, so that must have been a good sign, right?
Brendan's face relaxed into a smile.
"And I guess I have wanted to tell you for a while. It's hard to admit my feelings when I wrongly think of you as still being a child, although you aren't anymore. I apologize."
Brendan shrugged. "I am still younger than you." He took a sip of his coffee, frowned, then stirred more sugar in. "Burnt" he murmured.
Steven looked at his untouched coffee. He took a sip, frowning at the unfortunate burnt taste. "Ah, never mind. Perhaps we should go for a walk instead?"
Brendan smiled. "Okay." He left the coffee on the table, pulling his sweater over his head.
Steven admired Brendan. He was just so perfect...
"Steven, let's go" Brendan suggested.
They walked out, hands finding each other, fingers intertwining.